Relationship between aging and binocular visual field in everyday chores

Abstract

Introduction – Aging can be related with autonomy loss and decline of individual’s functional capacity impairing everyday chores execution leading to repercussions in life quality. Purpose – Review of the current literature available regarding the repercussions of aging on the binocular and attentional Visual Field and the influence of the binocular visual field in the elderly, regarding reading, writing and walking. Methodology – This study is a meta-analysis, based in a review of the contents of 37 scientific articles, which were subsequently organized in an observation grid and a comparative chart. Outcomes – In 32.43% (n=12) of the articles authors state that it is possible that aging diminishes the extension of the binocular and attentional visual field. Repercussions of the decrease of the binocular visual field extension, without attentional factor on daily activities, are referred in 54.05% (n=20) of the articles. Among those, 40.53% (n=15) established a relationship between the binocular visual field and the performance in reading, writing or walking. In 45.95% (n=17) of the articles the authors related binocular visual field with attentional factor and in 10.81% (n=4) of them established the same connection. Discussion/Findings – Aging causes a decrease in the visual field, particularly in the peripheral vision. This decrease impacts in reading, writing and walking capacities, which can be greatly affected in the presence of a diminished visual attention.

Keywords

• envelhecimento, campo visual binocular, campo visual atencional, atenção visual, tarefas do quotidiano.